run someone ragged

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run someone ragged

/ˈɹʌn ˌsʌmwʌn ˈɹæɡɪd/ UK
/ˈɹʌn ˌsʌmwʌn ˈɹæɡəd/ UK

Rhymes with -æɡɪd

Where it comes from

From run + ragged (“exhausted, tired, run down”).

verb runs someone ragged · running someone ragged · ran someone ragged · run someone ragged

idiomatic To exhaust; to demand excessive effort or work from somebody. They’ve been running him ragged trying to keep up with the demand for new features.
Similar: beleaguer, exhaust, fatigue, fordo, do for, gas out, get down, jade, knock up, poop, run someone ragged, tire

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MLA

"run someone ragged." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/run%20someone%20ragged. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

run someone ragged. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/run%20someone%20ragged

Chicago

"run someone ragged." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/run%20someone%20ragged.

BibTeX

@misc{run_someone_ragged_2026,
  title = {run someone ragged},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/run%20someone%20ragged},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}